Veterans Outdoor Recreation Programming Survey

This survey is designed to capture information about outdoor recreation programming and nature-based interventions for military veterans.

It has been developed by SHIFT, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of nature as a social determinant of health, in conjunction with:

—Semra Aytur, PhD, Associate Professor, Health Management and Policy, University of New Hampshire

—Jessie Bennett, PhD, Assistant Professor, Recreation Management and Policy, University of New Hampshire

—Nick Otis, Senior Research Associate, Leidos; Senior Research Associate, Naval Health Research Center

—Jasmine Townsend, PhD, Associate Professor, Recreational Therapy, Clemson University

—Deborah Tysor, PhD, Lecturer of Recreational Therapy, Clemson University

You are receiving this survey because we understand that you are a direct service provider of recreation therapy or outdoor recreation-based programming for military veterans. If that is the case, we invite you to complete the survey.

The survey should take ca. 25 minutes to complete. Survey results will be used to develop a baseline assessment of current practices within the field, which in turn will assist with the establishment of best practices for such programming.

Aggregate survey results may be made public; individual survey responses will remain anonymous.

If you would like to receive notifications about the project, please indicate so at the end of the survey.

Thank you in advance for your assistance. Should you have questions, please contact SHIFT Executive Director Christian Beckwith at cb@shiftjh.org.

Question Title

* 1. Organizational information

Organization Name

Year Founded

Website URL

Address

Address 2

City/Town

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Email address

Phone number

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* 2. Your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Role in Organization

Email Address

Phone Number

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* 3. Organization's mission

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* 4. Organization's vision (if different from mission)

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* 5. Organization's annual budget (2019)

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* 6. What percentage of your organization's annual budget is used for nature-based military veteran programming?

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* 7. What types of funding source(s) underwrite your nature-based military veteran programming?

Governmental

Foundation

Veterans Administration adaptive sports grants

Corporate

Individual donors

Programmatic revenue

Other (please specify)

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* 8. How many participants did your nature-based veterans programming engage in 2019?

1-50

51-100

101-200

201-300

301-400

401-500

More than 500

Other (please specify)

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* 9. What generation(s) of veterans do your nature-based programs typically serve?

Post-9/11

Pre-9/11

Vietnam

Korea

Other (please specify)

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* 10. What populations does your nature-based programming typically serve? (Select all that apply.)

Active-duty service members

Combat-exposed veterans

Veterans with military sexual trauma

Veterans with disabilities (service connected)

Veterans with disabilities (not service connected)

Female veterans

Any veteran regardless of disability or combat exposure

Other (please specify)

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* 11. Which of the following best describes your programming? (Select all that apply.)

Nature and Recreation-Based Programs without Therapeutic Intent (i.e., ones that intentionally foster connection with nature through outdoor recreation activities for purposes beyond therapeutic value, such as to give back to veterans, provide social opportunities, encourage conservation, physical activity, entertainment, or general recreation participation)

Nature and Recreation-Based Programs with Therapeutic Intent (i.e., ones that intentionally foster connection with nature through outdoor recreation activities, but do not necessarily have intentional therapeutic program elements; however, therapeutic outcomes may be achieved )

Nature and Recreation-Based Therapy Programs that use an individualized systematic process to yield desired health-related outcomes. Services are provided by a qualified provider (i.e., CTRS, LCSW, MFT, OT, PT, etc.)

Other (please specify)

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* 12. If you provide nature- and/or recreation-based therapy programs, what systematic processes do your qualified providers utilize?

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* 13. What types of recreational activities does your programming utilize? (Select all that apply.)

Agriculture/gardening

Backpacking

Canoeing

Camping

Climbing

Cycling

Fishing

Equine/Horseback riding

Hiking

Hunting

Kayaking

Mountain biking

Rafting

Rappeling

Sailing

Scuba Diving

Surfing

Other (please specify)

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* 14. How does your organization recruit participants for its programming? (Select all that apply.)

Working directly with the Veterans Administration

Working directly with Department of Defense

Word of mouth

Physician/healthcare provider reference

Online signup

Facebook or other social media advertisements

Other (please specify)

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* 15. What specific conditions does your nature-based programming seek to address? (Select all that apply.)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Depression

Mental health or behavioral adjustment disorders

Military sexual trauma

Substance use disorders

Family functioning

Traumatic brain injuries

Suicide prevention

Chronic pain

Amputations

Spinal cord injuries

Complex deployment and reintegration needs

No specific conditions

Other (please specify)

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* 16. What criteria do participants have to meet in order to participate? (Select all that apply.)

Participants need to have physician approval to participate

Participants need to provide evidence of combat exposure

Participants need to show documentation regarding service-connected disability

Participants need to have a specific disability rating

No participant screening

Other (please specify)

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* 17. What exclusion criteria does your program use during the recruitment process? (Select all that apply.)

Currently substance dependent

Actively suicidal/recent suicidal behavior

Recent psychiatric hospitalizations

Active psychosis

Service dogs

Weight-based considerations

Other (please specify)

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* 18. Do you allow others to participate in your programming?

	Do you allow them to participate?	Do you provide specific programming for them?
Partner/spouse	Partner/spouse Do you allow them to participate? menu	Partner/spouse Do you provide specific programming for them? menu
Children	Children Do you allow them to participate? menu	Children Do you provide specific programming for them? menu
Parents	Parents Do you allow them to participate? menu	Parents Do you provide specific programming for them? menu
Siblings	Siblings Do you allow them to participate? menu	Siblings Do you provide specific programming for them? menu
Friends	Friends Do you allow them to participate? menu	Friends Do you provide specific programming for them? menu

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* 19. What qualifications, certifications and/or licensure are your program facilitators required to have?

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* 20. What is the typical duration of your programming? (Select all that apply.)

1-4 hours

1 day

2 days

3 days

4 days

5 days

6 days

1 week

2 weeks

3 weeks

1 month

More than 1 month

Other (please specify)

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* 21. How frequently does a military veteran typically participate in your programming?

One time only

Once per year

Multiple times per year

Other (please specify)

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* 22. Does your organization assess or evaluate the measurable outcomes of your programming?

Yes

Other (please specify)

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* 23. If your answer to the preceding question was "yes," what measurable outcomes does your program assess or evaluate?

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* 24. If your answer to question 22 was "yes," what measures or assessments do you use to evaluate these outcomes?

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* 25. In your personal opinion, what are the primary benefits to veterans who participate in your programs?

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* 26. With what researchers or research institutions, if any, does your nature-based programming collaborate?

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* 27. What peer-reviewed research, if any, has been published about your programming? (Please include relevant links.)

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* 28. Please note any press or awards your programming has received (include links).

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* 29. Would you be willing to let us contact you about your responses?

Yes

Other (please specify)

Veterans Outdoor Recreation Programming Survey

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* 1. Organizational information

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* 2. Your contact information

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* 3. Organization's mission

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* 4. Organization's vision (if different from mission)

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* 5. Organization's annual budget (2019)

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* 6. What percentage of your organization's annual budget is used for nature-based military veteran programming?

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* 7. What types of funding source(s) underwrite your nature-based military veteran programming?

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* 8. How many participants did your nature-based veterans programming engage in 2019?

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* 9. What generation(s) of veterans do your nature-based programs typically serve?

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* 10. What populations does your nature-based programming typically serve? (Select all that apply.)

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* 11. Which of the following best describes your programming? (Select all that apply.)

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* 12. If you provide nature- and/or recreation-based therapy programs, what systematic processes do your qualified providers utilize?

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* 13. What types of recreational activities does your programming utilize? (Select all that apply.)

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* 14. How does your organization recruit participants for its programming? (Select all that apply.)

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* 15. What specific conditions does your nature-based programming seek to address? (Select all that apply.)

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* 16. What criteria do participants have to meet in order to participate? (Select all that apply.)

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* 17. What exclusion criteria does your program use during the recruitment process? (Select all that apply.)

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* 18. Do you allow others to participate in your programming?

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* 19. What qualifications, certifications and/or licensure are your program facilitators required to have?

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* 20. What is the typical duration of your programming? (Select all that apply.)

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* 21. How frequently does a military veteran typically participate in your programming?

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* 22. Does your organization assess or evaluate the measurable outcomes of your programming?

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* 23. If your answer to the preceding question was "yes," what measurable outcomes does your program assess or evaluate?

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* 24. If your answer to question 22 was "yes," what measures or assessments do you use to evaluate these outcomes?

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* 25. In your personal opinion, what are the primary benefits to veterans who participate in your programs?

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* 26. With what researchers or research institutions, if any, does your nature-based programming collaborate?

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* 27. What peer-reviewed research, if any, has been published about your programming? (Please include relevant links.)

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* 28. Please note any press or awards your programming has received (include links).

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* 29. Would you be willing to let us contact you about your responses?

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* 30. Is there anything else you would like us to know about your nature-based programming?